NISSAN is introducing a new variant of its Leaf electric vehicle called the Shiro which will become the entry-level model in the range.

Based on an N-Connecta grade model, the new derivate costs from £28,495 and includes the ProPILOT Assist system

The driver assist package is made up of Traffic Jam pilot, Intelligent Lane Keep Assist and an electronic parking brake.

The Leaf Shiro has synthetic leather trim with cloth inserts and is available with the 39kWh battery only.

Shiro is Japanese for white and the car comes with Arctic White paint as standard. The new variant is available with optional spare wheel pack and two-tone paint.

Nic Thomas, Nissan GB marketing director, said: "Staying true to the Leaf's roots as the original affordable mass-market electric family car we are pleased to be able to offer this variant with over £1,000 worth of benefits for £28,495, £2,000 less than the N-Connecta on which it is based."

The Shiro is built in the UK at Nissan's Sunderland plant.